Methods of performing DSP operations using flexible data type operands

ABSTRACT

An instruction set architecture (ISA) for application specific signal processor (ASSP) is tailored to digital signal processing applications. The ISA implemented with the ASSP, is adapted to DSP algorithmic structures. The ISA of the present invention includes flexible data typing, permutation, and type matching of operands. The flexible data typing, permutation and type matching of operands provides programming flexibility to support different filtering and DSP algorithms having different types of filter coefficients or data samples. A data typer and aligner within each signal processing unit within the ASSP supports flexible data typing, permutation and type matching of operands of the instruction set architecture.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a divisional application and claims thebenefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/652,556, entitled “PROCESSORSWITH DATA TYPER AND ALIGNER SELECTIVELY COUPLING DATA BITS OF DATA BUSESTO ADDER AND MULTIPLIER FUNCTIONAL BLOCKS TO EXECUTE INSTRUCTIONS WITHFLEXIBLE DATA TYPES”, by Kumar Ganapathy and Ruban Kanapathipillai,filed Aug. 31, 2000, now allowed; which is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. application Ser. No. 09/427,174, filed Oct. 25, 1999, now U.S. Pat.No. 6,330,660 and a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.09/494,608, filed Jan. 31, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,195.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates generally to the instruction setarchitectures (ISA) of processors. More particularly, the inventionrelates to operand data types for digital signal processors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] To process data in a computing device, an instruction set isdefined. An instruction set having one or more instructions are requiredfor computing devices such as microprocessors, computers or single chipDSP devices. In defining an instruction set for a computing device, thedata type of operands that will be computed is usually predefined basedon the number representation to be utilized and the type of hardwarethat is provided. The data type of the instruction set architecture(ISA) in essence is defined by how and what type of numeric data thecomputing device will process.

[0004] The number representation utilized for data types includes theradix or base of a number, whether or not it is to be encoded (binarycoded such as BCD), and the numeric format. The radices ordinarily usedin computers is binary or a radix of two. Other radices that may be usedin computers is octal (radix of eight), decimal (radix of ten), andhexadecimal (radix of sixteen). If a radix other than two is selected,it ordinarily needs to be binarily coded so that it is recognizable bydigital logic. For example, if a radix of ten is used the numbers arebinary coded using a four bit binary number which is referred to asbinary coded decimal (BCD).

[0005] The numeric format is associated with whether the number is tohave a fixed point or floating point representation, an integer orfractional format and their associated representations, a normalized orunnormalized format, and whether the bits representing the number arepacked or unpacked. In a floating point representation an exponentnumber is usually included. In a fixed point representation, the radixpoint (decimal point for radix of ten) is in a fixed position withrespect to the bits or numbers of the data. If the radix point is to theright of all numbers it is an integer format. If the radix point is tothe left of all numbers it is a fractional format. An example offloating point data types is the single and double precision floatingpoint data types defined in the IEEE 754 specification.

[0006] The normalized and unnormalized formats are specific to floatingpoint representations and a fractional format. If a number is to benormalized, the number is to be represented in fractional form and thebit to the immediate right of the radix point is a one. If it is anunnormalized format, the number is to be represented in fractional formand the bit to the immediate right of the radix point can be either aone or a zero.

[0007] If the numbers which are to be processed can be positive ornegative, the numeric representation needs to have an encoding scheme toprovide the representation of both positive and negative values. Typicalencoding methods for integer formats are sign-magnitude,diminished-radix complement (one's complement for binary or a radix oftwo) and radix complement (two's complement for binary or a radix oftwo). If a floating format is used, both the fraction value and theexponent value may be encoded similar to the integer encoding methods.Furthermore depending upon the range of values and/or accuracy desired,the number of bits (i.e. digits), bytes and words for the numericrepresentation needs to be considered. For example, the number of bitsrepresenting a number may be fixed to one thirty two bit value or foureight bit bytes. As another example, the number of bits representing anumber may be thirty two bits for the fractional format and three bitsfor the exponent.

[0008] Additionally, besides a numeric representation, the data type ofan instruction set architecture may include character strings or texttype of data. The characters in this case are usually encoded into abinary form such as the American Standard Code for InformationInterchange (ASCII) code. Another form of encoding is Extended BinaryCoded Decimal Interchange Code (EBCDIC). These encoded forms may also bepacked from their binary forms into a packed decimal form in order toreduce the number of bits necessary for their representation.

[0009] The data type for an instruction set architecture of a digitalsignal processor (DSP) is important. DSPs generally are distinguishedfrom general purpose microprocessors in that DSPs typically supportaccelerated arithmetic operations by including a dedicated multiplierand accumulator (MAC) for performing multiplication of digital numbers.The instruction set for a typical DSP device usually includes only oneDSP instruction, a MAC instruction, for performing multiplication of newoperands and addition with a prior accumulated value stored within anaccumulator register. The data type for the operands of the MACinstruction in prior art DSP devices is usually dependent upon themultiplier hardware performing its portion of the MAC operation.Typically the data type is fixed for the DSP. If it is desirable toperform a MAC operation on operands of data having a format that doesnot conform to the data type, other instructions need be executed toformat the data so that it can be processed by the given MAC instructionwith the given data type. These other instructions may included readingand writing data into a memory in order to select the appropriate bitsof data of the operand upon which to perform the MAC instruction.

[0010] One area where DSPs may be utilized is in telecommunicationsystems. One use of DSPs in telecommunication systems is digitalfiltering. In this case a DSP is typically programmed with instructionsto implement some filter function in the digital or time domain. Themathematical algorithm for a typical finite impulse response (FIR)filter may look like the equation Y_(n)=h₀X₀+h₁X₁+h₂X₂+ . . .+h_(N)X_(N) where h_(n) are fixed filter coefficients numbering from 1to N and X_(n) are the data samples. The equation Y_(n) may be evaluatedby using a software program. However in some applications, it isnecessary that the equation be evaluated as fast as possible. One way todo this is to perform the computations using hardware components such asa DSP device programmed to compute the equation Y_(n). In order tofurther speed the process, it is desirable to vectorize the equation anddistribute the computation amongst multiple DSPs such that the finalresult is obtained more quickly. The multiple DSPs operate in parallelto speed the computation process. In this case, the multiplication ofterms is spread across the multipliers of the DSPs equally forsimultaneous computations of terms. The adding of terms is similarlyspread equally across the adders of the DSPs for simultaneouscomputations. In vectorized processing, the order of processing terms isunimportant since the combination is associative. If the processingorder of the terms is altered, it has no effect on the final resultexpected in a vectorized processing of a function. In a DSP device thatis used to perform vectorized processing, it is desirable to considerthe type of vectorized processing within the data type of theinstruction set architecture to improve data processing efficiency.

[0011] Oftentimes the type of filtering used in communication systemsdiffers. The different types of filtering systems may use differingtypes of operands and filter coefficients. In these cases it isdesirable to have flexibility in how DSP instructions process differingoperands. It is also desirable to improve the efficiency of usingcomputing resources to speed the execution of DSP instructions.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention is briefly summarized in the claims andincludes a method, an apparatus and a system as described therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a system utilizing the presentinvention.

[0014]FIG. 1B is a block diagram of a printed circuit board utilizingthe present invention within the gateways of the system in FIG. 1A.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the Application Specific SignalProcessor (ASSP) of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an instance of the core processorswithin the ASSP of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the RISC processing unit within thecore processors of FIG. 3.

[0018]FIG. 5A is a block diagram of an instance of the signal processingunits within the core processors of FIG. 3.

[0019]FIG. 5B is a more detailed block diagram of FIG. 5A illustratingthe bus structure of the signal processing unit.

[0020]FIG. 6 is the general data type format for an operand of theinstruction set architecture of the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 7 is an exemplary bitmap for a control register illustratingdata typing and permuting of operands.

[0022]FIG. 8 is an exemplary chart of possible data types of operandsthat can be selected.

[0023]FIG. 9 is an exemplary chart of possible permutations of operandsand their respective orientation to the signal processing units.

[0024]FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a cross sectional block diagram ofthe data typer and aligner of each signal processing unit of FIG. 3.

[0025]FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the bus multiplexers included in thedata typer and aligner of each signal processing unit of FIG. 10.

[0026]FIG. 12A is a chart of real data types and their alignment for theadders of the signal processing units.

[0027]FIG. 12B is a chart of real data types and their alignment for themultipliers of the signal processing units.

[0028]FIG. 12C is a first chart of complex data types and theiralignment for the adders of the signal processing units.

[0029]FIG. 12D is a second chart of complex data types and theiralignment for the adders of the signal processing units.

[0030]FIG. 12E is a chart of complex data types and their alignment forthe multipliers of the signal processing units.

[0031]FIG. 12F is a second chart of complex data types and theiralignment for the multipliers of the signal processing units.

[0032]FIG. 13A is a chart illustrating data type matching for a realpair of operands.

[0033]FIG. 13B is a chart illustrating data type matching for a complexpair of operands.

[0034]FIG. 13C is a chart illustrating data type matching for a realoperand and a complex operand.

[0035]FIG. 14 is an exemplary chart illustrating data type matching forthe multipliers of the signal processing units.

[0036]FIG. 15A is an exemplary chart illustrating data type matching forthe adders of the signal processing units for scalar addition.

[0037]FIG. 15B is an exemplary chart illustrating data type matching forthe adders of the signal processing units for vector addition. FIG. 16is a block diagram of the control of the bus multiplexers included inthe data typer and aligner of each signal processing unit.

[0038] Like reference numbers and designations in the drawings indicatelike elements providing similar functionality. A letter after areference designator number represents an instance of an element havingthe reference designator number.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0039] In the following detailed description of the present invention,numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious toone skilled in the art that the present invention may be practicedwithout these specific details. In other instances well known methods,procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detailso as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention.Furthermore, the present invention will be described in particularembodiments but may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware or acombination thereof

[0040] Multiple application specific signal processors (ASSPs) havingthe instruction set architecture of the present invention includeflexible data typing, permutation, and type matching of operands. Theflexible data typing, permutation and type matching of operands providesprogramming flexibility to support different filtering and DSPalgorithms having different types of filter coefficients or datasamples. The flexibility to support different DSP algorithms withingateways of communication systems can provide improved voice and datacommunication over a packetized network. Each ASSP includes a serialinterface, a buffer memory and four core processors in order tosimultaneously process multiple channels of voice or data. Each coreprocessor preferably includes a reduced instruction set computer (RISC)processor and four signal processing units (SPs). Each SP includesmultiple arithmetic blocks to simultaneously process multiple voice anddata communication signal samples for communication over IP, ATM, FrameRelay, or other packetized network. The four signal processing units canexecute digital signal processing algorithms in parallel. Each ASSP isflexible and can be programmed to perform many network functions ordata/voice processing functions, including voice and datacompression/decompression in telecommunication systems (such as CODECs),particularly packetized telecommunication networks, simply by alteringthe software program controlling the commands executed by the ASSP.

[0041] An instruction set architecture for the ASSP is tailored todigital signal processing applications including audio and speechprocessing such as compression/decompression and echo cancellation. Theinstruction set architecture implemented with the ASSP, is adapted toDSP algorithmic structures. This adaptation of the ISA of the presentinvention to DSP algorithmic structures balances the ease ofimplementation, processing efficiency, and programmability of DSPalgorithms. The instruction set architecture may be viewed as being twocomponent parts, one (RISC ISA) corresponding to the RISC control unitand another (DSP ISA) to the DSP datapaths of the signal processingunits 300. The RISC ISA is a register based architecture including16-registers within the register file 413, while the DSP ISA is a memorybased architecture with efficient digital signal processinginstructions. The instruction word for the ASSP is typically 20 bits butcan be expanded to 40-bits to control two instructions to the executedin series or parallel, such as two RISC control instruction and extendedDSP instructions. The instruction set architecture of the ASSP has fourdistinct types of instructions to optimize the DSP operational mix.These are (1) a 20-bit DSP instruction that uses mode bits in controlregisters (i.e. mode registers), (2) a 40-bit DSP instruction havingcontrol extensions that can override mode registers, (3) a 20-bit dyadicDSP instruction, and (4) a 40 bit dyadic DSP instruction. Theseinstructions are for accelerating calculations within the core processorof the type where D=[(A op1 B) op2 C] and each of “op1” and “op2” can bea multiply, add or extremum (min/max) class of operation on the threeoperands A, B, and C. The ISA of the ASSP which accelerates thesecalculations allows efficient chaining of different combinations ofoperations.

[0042] All DSP instructions of the instruction set architecture of theASSP are dyadic DSP instructions to execute two operations in oneinstruction with one cycle throughput. A dyadic DSP instruction is acombination of two DSP instructions or operations in one instruction andincludes a main DSP operation (MAIN OP) and a sub DSP operation (SUBOP). Generally, the instruction set architecture of the presentinvention can be generalized to combining any pair of basic DSPoperations to provide very powerful dyadic instruction combinations. TheDSP arithmetic operations in the preferred embodiment include a multiplyinstruction (MULT), an addition instruction (ADD), a minimize/maximizeinstruction (MIN/MAX) also referred to as an extrema instruction, and ano operation instruction (NOP) each having an associated operation code(“opcode”).

[0043] The present invention efficiently executes these dyadic DSPinstructions by means of the instruction set architecture and thehardware architecture of the application specific signal processor.

[0044] Referring now to FIG. 1A, a voice and data communication system100 is illustrated. The system 100 includes a network 101 which is apacketized or packet-switched network, such as IP, ATM, or frame relay.The network 101 allows the communication of voice/speech and databetween endpoints in the system 100, using packets. Data may be of anytype including audio, video, email, and other generic forms of data. Ateach end of the system 100, the voice or data requires packetizationwhen transceived across the network 101. The system 100 includesgateways 104A, 104B, and 104C in order to packetize the informationreceived for transmission across the network 101. A gateway is a devicefor connecting multiple networks and devices that use differentprotocols. Voice and data information may be provided to a gateway 104from a number of different sources in a variety of digital formats. Insystem 100, analog voice signals are transceived by a telephone 108. Insystem 100, digital voice signals are transceived at public branchexchanges (PBX) 112A and 112B which are coupled to multiple telephones,fax machines, or data modems. Digital voice signals are transceivedbetween PBX 112A and PBX 112B with gateways 104A and 104C, respectively.Digital data signals may also be transceived directly between a digitalmodem 114 and a gateway 104A. Digital modem 114 may be a DigitalSubscriber Line (DSL) modem or a cable modem. Data signals may also becoupled into system 100 by a wireless communication system by means of amobile unit 118 transceiving digital signals or analog signalswirelessly to a base station 116. Base station 116 converts analogsignals into digital signals or directly passes the digital signals togateway 104B. Data may be transceived by means of modem signals over theplain old telephone system (POTS) 107B using a modem 110. Modem signalscommunicated over POTS 107B are traditionally analog in nature and arecoupled into a switch 106B of the public switched telephone network(PSTN). At the switch 106B, analog signals from the POTS 107B aredigitized and transceived to the gateway 104B by time divisionmultiplexing (TDM) with each time slot representing a channel and oneDS0 input to gateway 104B. At each of the gateways 104A, 104B and 104C,incoming signals are packetized for transmission across the network 101.Signals received by the gateways 104A, 104B and 104C from the network101 are depacketized and transcoded for distribution to the appropriatedestination.

[0045] Referring now to FIG. 1B, a network interface card (NIC) 130 of agateway 104 is illustrated. The NIC 130 includes one or moreapplication-specific signal processors (ASSPs) 150A-150N. The number ofASSPs within a gateway is expandable to handle additional channels. Lineinterface devices 131 of NIC 130 provide interfaces to various devicesconnected to the gateway, including the network 101. In interfacing tothe network 101, the line interface devices packetize data fortransmission out on the network 101 and depacketize data which is to bereceived by the ASSP devices. Line interface devices 131 processinformation received by the gateway on the receive bus 134 and providesit to the ASSP devices. Information from the ASSP devices 150 iscommunicated on the transmit bus 132 for transmission out of thegateway. A traditional line interface device is a multi-channel serialinterface or a UTOPIA device. The NIC 130 couples to a gatewaybackplane/network interface bus 136 within the gateway 104. Bridge logic138 transceives information between bus 136 and NIC 130. Bridge logic138 transceives signals between the NIC 130 and the backplane/networkinterface bus 136 onto the host bus 139 for communication to either oneor more of the ASSP devices 150A-150N, a host processor 140, or a hostmemory 142. Optionally coupled to each of the one or more ASSP devices150A through 15ON (generally referred to as ASSP 150) are optional localmemory 145A through 145N (generally referred to as optional local memory145), respectively. Digital data on the receive bus 134 and transmit bus132 is preferably communicated in bit wide fashion. While internalmemory within each ASSP may be sufficiently large to be used as ascratchpad memory, optional local memory 145 may be used by each of theASSPs 150 if additional memory space is necessary.

[0046] Each of the ASSPs 150 provide signal processing capability forthe gateway. The type of signal processing provided is flexible becauseeach ASSP may execute differing signal processing programs. Typicalsignal processing and related voice packetization functions for an ASSPinclude (a) echo cancellation; (b) video, audio, and voice/speechcompression/decompression (voice/speech coding and decoding); (c) delayhandling (packets, frames); (d) loss handling; (e) connectivity (LAN andWAN); (f) security (encryption/decryption); (g) telephone connectivity;(h) protocol processing (reservation and transport protocols, RSVP,TCP/IP, RTP, UDP for IP, and AAL2, AAL1, AAL5 for ATM); (i) filtering;(j) Silence suppression; (k) length handling (frames, packets); andother digital signal processing functions associated with thecommunication of voice and data over a communication system. Each ASSP150 can perform other functions in order to transmit voice and data tothe various endpoints of the system 100 within a packet data stream overa packetized network.

[0047] Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of the ASSP 150 isillustrated. At the heart of the ASSP 150 are four core processors200A-200D. Each of the core processors 200A-200D is respectively coupledto a data memory 202A-202D through buses 203A-203D. Each of the coreprocessors 200A-200D is also respectively coupled to a program memory204A-204D through buses 205A-205D respectively. Each of the coreprocessors 200A-200D communicates with outside channels through themulti-channel serial interface 206, the multi-channel memory movementengine 208, buffer memory 210, and data memory 202A-202D. The ASSP 150further includes an external memory interface 212 to couple to theexternal optional local memory 145. The ASSP 150 includes an externalhost interface 214 for interfacing to the external host processor 140 ofFIG. 1B. Further included within the ASSP 150 are timers 216, clockgenerators and a phase-lock loop 218, miscellaneous control logic 220,and a Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) test access port 222 for boundaryscan testing. The multi-channel serial interface 206 may be replacedwith a UTOPIA parallel interface for some applications such as ATM. TheASSP 150 further includes a microcontroller 223 to perform processscheduling for the core processors 200A-200D and the coordination of thedata movement within the ASSP as well as an interrupt controller 224 toassist in interrupt handling and the control of the ASSP 150.

[0048] Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram of the core processor200 is illustrated coupled to its respective data memory 202 throughbuses 203 and program memory 204 through buses 205. Core processor 200is the block diagram for each of the core processors 200A-200D. Datamemory 202 and program memory 204 refers to a respective instance ofdata memory 202A-202D and program memory 204A-204D, respectively. Buses203 and 205 refers to a respective instance of buses 203A-203D and205A-205D, respectively. The core processor 200 includes four signalprocessing units SPO 300A, SP1 300B, SP2 300C and SP3 300D. The coreprocessor 200 further includes a reduced instruction set computer (RISC)control unit 302 and a pipeline control unit 304. The signal processingunits 300A-300D perform the signal processing tasks on data while theRISC control unit 302 and the pipeline control unit 304 perform controltasks related to the signal processing function performed by the SPs300A-300D. The control provided by the RISC control unit 302 is coupledwith the SPs 300A-300D at the pipeline level to yield a tightlyintegrated core processor 200 that keeps the utilization of the signalprocessing units 300 at a very high level.

[0049] Program memory 204 couples to the pipe control 304 which includesan instruction buffer that acts as a local loop cache. The instructionbuffer in the preferred embodiment has the capability of holding fourinstructions. The instruction buffer of the pipe control 304 reduces thepower consumed in accessing the main memories to fetch instructionsduring the execution of program loops.

[0050] The signal processing tasks are performed on the datapaths withinthe signal processing units 300A-300D. The nature of the DSP algorithmsare such that they are inherently vector operations on streams of data,that have minimal temporal locality (data reuse). Hence, a data cachewith demand paging is not used because it would not function well andwould degrade operational performance. Therefore, the signal processingunits 300A-300D are allowed to access vector elements (the operands)directly from data memory 202 without the overhead of issuing a numberof load and store instructions into memory, resulting in very efficientdata processing. Thus, the instruction set architecture of the presentinvention having a 20 bit instruction word, which can be expanded to a40 bit instruction word, achieves better efficiencies than VLIWarchitectures using 256-bits or higher instruction widths by adaptingthe ISA to DSP algorithmic structures. The adapted ISA leads to verycompact and low-power hardware that can scale to higher computationalrequirements. The operands that the ASSP can accommodate are varied indata type and data size. The data type may be real or complex, aninteger value or a fractional value, with vectors having multipleelements of different sizes. The data size in the preferred embodimentis 64 bits but larger data sizes can be accommodated with properinstruction coding.

[0051] Referring now to FIG. 4, a detailed block diagram of the RISCcontrol unit 302 is illustrated. RISC control unit 302 includes a dataaligner and formatter 402, a memory address generator 404, three adders406A-406C, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) 408, a multiplier 410, abarrel shifter 412, and a register file 413. The register file 413points to a starting memory location from which memory address generator404 can generate addresses into data memory 202. The RISC control unit302 is responsible for supplying addresses to data memory so that theproper data stream is fed to the signal processing units 300A-300D. TheRISC control unit 302 is a register to register organization with loadand store instructions to move data to and from data memory 202. Datamemory addressing is performed by RISC control unit using a 32-bitregister as a pointer that specifies the address, post-modificationoffset, and type and permute fields. The type field allows a variety ofnatural DSP data to be supported as a “first class citizen” in thearchitecture. For instance, the complex type allows direct operations oncomplex data stored in memory removing a number of bookkeepinginstructions. This is useful in supporting QAM demodulators in datamodems very efficiently.

[0052] Referring now to FIG. 5A, a block diagram of a signal processingunit 300 is illustrated which represents an instance of the SPs300A-300D. Each of the signal processing units 300 includes a data typerand aligner 502, a first multiplier M1 504A, a compressor 506, a firstadder A1 510A, a second adder A2 510B, an accumulator register 512, athird adder A3 510C, and a second multiplier M2 504B. Adders 510A-510Care similar in structure and are generally referred to as adder 510.Multipliers 504A and 504B are similar in structure and generallyreferred to as multiplier 504. Each of the multipliers 504A and 504Bhave a multiplexer 514A and 514B respectively at its input stage tomultiplex different inputs from different busses into the multipliers.Each of the adders 510A, 510B, 510C also have a multiplexer 520A, 520B,and 520C respectively at its input stage to multiplex different inputsfrom different busses into the adders. These multiplexers and othercontrol logic allow the adders, multipliers and other components withinthe signal processing units 300A-300C to be flexibly interconnected byproper selection of multiplexers. In the preferred embodiment,multiplier M1 504A, compressor 506, adder A1 510A, adder A2 510B andaccumulator 512 can receive inputs directly from external data busesthrough the data typer and aligner 502. In the preferred embodiment,adder 510C and multiplier M2 504B receive inputs from the accumulator512 or the outputs from the execution units multiplier M1 504A,compressor 506, adder A1 510A, and adder A2 510B.

[0053] Referring now to FIG. 5B, a more detailed block diagram of thefunctional blocks and the bus structure of the signal processing unit300 is illustrated. Flexible data typing is possible because of thestructure and functionality provided in each signal processing unit. Thebuses 203 to data memory 202 include a Z output bus 532 and an X inputbus 531 and a Y input bus 533. Output signals are coupled out of thesignal processor 300 on the Z output bus 532 through the data typer andaligner 502. Input signals are coupled into the signal processor 300 onthe X input bus 531 and Y input bus 533 through the data typer andaligner 502. Two operands can be loaded in parallel together from thedata memory 202 into the signal processor 300, one on each of the X bus531 and the Y bus 533.

[0054] Internal to the signal processor 300, the SXM bus 552 and the SYMbus 556 couple between the data typer and aligner 502 and the multiplierM1 504A for two sources of operands from the X bus 531 and the Y bus 533respectively. The SXA bus 550 and the SYA bus 554 couple between thedata typer and aligner 502 and the adder A1 510A and between the datatyper and aligner 502 and the adder A2 510B for two sources of operandsfrom the X bus 531 and the Y bus 533 respectively. In the preferredembodiment, the X bus 531 and the Y bus 533 is sixty four bits widewhile the SXA bus 550 and the SYA bus 554 is forty bits wide and the SXMbus 552 and the SYM bus 556 is sixteen bits wide. Another pair ofinternal buses couples between the data typer and aligner 502 and thecompressor 506 and between the data typer and aligner 502 and theaccumulator register AR 512. While the data typer and aligner 502 couldhave data busses coupling to the adder A3 510C and the multiplier M2504B, in the preferred embodiment it does not in order to avoid extradata lines and conserve area usage of an integrated circuit. Output datais coupled from the accumulator register AR 512 into the data typer andaligner 502 over yet another bus. Multiplier M1 504A has buses to coupleits output into the inputs of the compressor 506, adder A1 510A, adderA2 510B, and the accumulator registers AR 512. Compressor 506 has busesto couple its output into the inputs of adder A1 510A and adder A2 510B.Adder A1 510A has a bus to couple its output into the accumulatorregisters 512. Adder A2 510B has buses to couple its output into theaccumulator registers 512. Accumulator registers 512 has buses to coupleits output into multiplier M2 504B, adder A3 510C, and data typer andaligner 502. Adder A3 510C has buses to couple its output into themultiplier M2 504B and the accumulator registers 512. Multiplier M2 504Bhas buses to couple its output into the inputs of the adder A3 510C andthe accumulator registers AR 512.

Instruction Set Architecture

[0055] The instruction set architecture of the ASSP 150 is tailored todigital signal processing applications including audio and speechprocessing such as compression/decompression and echo cancellation. Inessence, the instruction set architecture implemented with the ASSP 150,is adapted to DSP algorithmic structures. The adaptation of the ISA ofthe present invention to DSP algorithmic structures is a balance betweenease of implementation, processing efficiency, and programmability ofDSP algorithms. The ISA of the present invention provides for datamovement operations, DSP/arithmetic/logical operations, program controloperations (such as function calls/returns, unconditional/conditionaljumps and branches), and system operations (such as privilege,interrupt/trap/hazard handling and memory management control).

[0056] The instruction set architecture of the ASSP 150 can be viewed asbeing two component parts, one (RISC ISA) corresponding to the RISCcontrol unit and another (DSP ISA) to the DSP datapaths of the signalprocessing units 300. The RISC ISA is a register based architectureincluding sixteen registers within the register file 413, while the DSPISA is a memory based architecture with efficient digital signalprocessing instructions. The instruction word for the ASSP is typically20 bits but can be expanded to 40-bits to control two RISC or DSPinstructions to be executed in series or parallel, such as a RISCcontrol instruction executed in parallel with a DSP instruction, or a 40bit extended RISC or DSP instruction.

[0057] The instruction set architecture of the ASSP 150 has 4 distincttypes of instructions to optimize the DSP operational mix. These are (1)a 20-bit DSP instruction that uses mode bits in control registers (i.e.mode registers), (2) a 40-bit DSP instruction having control extensionsthat can override mode registers, (3) a 20-bit dyadic DSP instruction,and (4) a 40 bit dyadic DSP instruction. These instructions are foraccelerating calculations within the core processor 200 of the typewhere D=[(A op1 B) op2 C] and each of “op1” and “op2” can be a multiply,add or extremum (min/max) class of operation on the three operands A, B,and C. The ISA of the ASSP 150 which accelerates these calculationsallows efficient chaining of different combinations of operations. Thesetype of operations require three operands, which need to be madeavailable to the processor which is to perform the operation. The sizeof the integrated circuit places limits on the bus structure whichlimits the bandwidth to two vector reads and one vector write each cycleinto and out of data memory 202. Thus one of the three operands, such asB or C, needs to come from another source within the core processor 200.The third operand can be placed into one of the registers of theaccumulator 512 or the RISC register file 413. In order to accomplishthis within the core processor 200 there are two subclasses of the20-bit DSP instructions which are (1) A and B specified by a 4-bitspecifier, and C and D by a 1-bit specifier and (2) A and C specified bya 4-bit specifier, and B and D by a 1 bit specifier.

[0058] Instructions for the ASSP are always fetched 40-bits at a timefrom program memory with bit 39 and 19 indicating the type ofinstruction. After fetching, the instruction is grouped into twosections of 20 bits each for execution of operations. In the case of20-bit control instructions with parallel execution (bit 39=0, bit19=0), the two 20-bit sections are control instructions that areexecuted simultaneously. In the case of 20-bit control instructions forserial execution (bit 39=0, bit 19=1), the two 20-bit sections arecontrol instructions that are executed serially. In the case of 20-bitDSP instructions for serial execution (bit 39=1, bit 19=1), the two20-bit sections are DSP instructions that are executed serially. In thecase of 40-bit DSP instructions (bit 39=1, bit 19=0), the two 20 bitsections form one extended DSP instruction which are executedsimultaneously.

[0059] The ISA of the ASSP 150 is fully predicated providing forexecution prediction. Within the 20-bit RISC control instruction wordand the 40-bit extended DSP instruction word there are 2 bits of eachinstruction specifying one of four predicate registers within the RISCcontrol unit 302. Depending upon the condition of the predicateregister, instruction execution can conditionally change base on itscontents.

[0060] In order to access operands within the data memory 202 orregisters within the accumulator 512 or register file 413, a 6-bitspecifier is used in the DSP extended instructions to access operands inmemory and registers. Of the six bit specifier used in the extended DSPinstructions, the MSB (Bit 5) indicates whether the access is a memoryaccess or register access. In the preferred embodiment, if Bit 5 is setto logical one, it denotes a memory access for an operand. If Bit 5 isset to a logical zero, it denotes a register access for an operand. IfBit 5 is set to 1, the contents of a specified register (rX where X:0-7) are used to obtain the effective memory address and post-modify thepointer field by one of two possible offsets specified in one of thespecified rX registers. If Bit 5 is set to 0, Bit 4 determines whatregister set has the contents of the desired operand. If Bit-4 is set to0, then the remaining specified bits 3:0 control access to the registerswithin the register file 413 or to registers within the signalprocessing units 300.

DSP Instructions

[0061] There are four major classes of DSP instructions for the ASSP 150these are:

[0062] 1) Multiply (MULT): Controls the execution of the main multiplierconnected to data buses from memory.

[0063] Controls: Rounding, sign of multiply

[0064] Operates on vector data specified through type field in addressregister

[0065] Second operation: Add, Sub, Min, Max in vector or scalar mode

[0066] 2) Add (ADD): Controls the execution of the main-adder

[0067] Controls: absolute value control of the inputs, limiting theresult

[0068] Second operation: Add, add-sub, mult, mac, min, max

[0069] 3) Extremum (MIN/MAX): Controls the execution of the main-adder

[0070] Controls: absolute value control of the inputs, Global or runningmax/min with T register, TR register recording control

[0071] Second operation: add, sub, mult, mac, min, max

[0072] 4) Misc: type-match and permute operations.

[0073] The ASSP 150 can execute these DSP arithmetic operations invector or scalar fashion. In scalar execution, a reduction or combiningoperation is performed on the vector results to yield a scalar result.It is common in DSP applications to perform scalar operations, which areefficiently performed by the ASSP 150.

[0074] The 20-bit DSP instruction words have 4-bit operand specifiersthat can directly access data memory using 8 address registers (r0-r7)within the register file 413 of the RISC control unit 302. The method ofaddressing by the 20 bit DSP instruction word is regular indirect withthe address register specifying the pointer into memory,post-modification value, type of data accessed and permutation of thedata needed to execute the algorithm efficiently. All of the DSPinstructions control the multipliers 504A-504B, adders 510A-510C,compressor 506 and the accumulator 512, the functional units of eachsignal processing unit 30OA-300D.

[0075] In the 40 bit instruction word, the type of extension from the 20bit instruction word falls into five categories:

[0076] 1) Control and Specifier extensions that override the controlbits in mode registers

[0077] 2) Type extensions that override the type specifier in addressregisters

[0078] 3) Permute extensions that override the permute specifier forvector data in address registers

[0079] 4) Offset extensions that can replace or extend the offsetsspecified in the address registers

[0080] 5) DSP extensions that control the lower rows of functional unitswithin a signal processing unit 300 to accelerate block processing.

[0081] The 40-bit control instructions with the 20 bit extensionsfurther allow a large immediate value (16 to 20 bits) to be specified inthe instruction and powerful bit manipulation instructions.

[0082] Efficient DSP execution is provided with 2×20-bit DSPinstructions with the first 20-bits controlling the top functional units(adders 501A and 510B, multiplier 504A, compressor 506) that interfaceto data buses from memory and the second 20 bits controlling the bottomfunctional units (adder 510C and multiplier 504B) that use internal orlocal data as operands.

[0083] Efficient DSP execution is also improved by the hardwarearchitecture of the present invention. In this case, efficiency isimproved in the manner that data is supplied to and from data memory 202to feed the four signal processing units 300 and the DSP functionalunits therein. The data highway is comprised of buses 203 including theX bus 531 and Y bus 533 for X and Y source operands respectively and theZ bus 532 for a result write. All buses, including X bus 531, Y bus 533,and Z bus 532, are preferably 64 bits wide. The buses areuni-directional to simplify the physical design and reduce transit timesof data. In the preferred embodiment when in a 20 bit DSP mode, if the Xand Y buses are both carrying operands read from memory for parallelexecution in a signal processing unit 300, the parallel load field canonly access registers within the register file 413 of the RISC controlunit 302. Additionally, the four signal processing units 300A-300D inparallel provide four parallel MAC units (multiplier 504A, adder 510A,and accumulator 512) that can make simultaneous computations. Thisreduces the cycle count from 4 cycles ordinarily required to performfour MACs to only one cycle.

Data Typing, Aligning and Permuting

[0084] In order for the present invention to adapt to the different DSPalgorithmic structures, it provides for flexible data typing andaligning, data type matching, and permutation of operands. Different DSPalgorithms may use data samples having varying bit widths such as fourbits, eight bits, sixteen bits, twenty four bits, thirty two bits, orforty bits. Additionally, the data samples may be real or complex. Inthe preferred embodiment of the present invention, the multipliers inthe signal processing units are sixteen bits wide and the adders in thesignal processing units are forty bits wide. The operands are read intothe signal processing units from data memory across the X or Y data buseach of which in the preferred embodiment are sixty four bits wide. Thechoice of these bit widths considers the type of DSP algorithms beingprocessed, the operands/data samples, the physical bus widths within anintegrated circuit, and the circuit area required to implement theadders and multipliers. In order to flexibly handle the various datatypes, the operands are automatically adapted (i.e. aligned) by thepresent invention to the adder or multiplier respectively. If the datatype of the operands differs, than a type matching is required. Thepresent invention provides automatic type matching to process disparateoperands. Furthermore, various permutations of the operands may bedesirable such as for scaling a vector by a constant. In which case, thepresent invention provides flexible permutations of operands.

[0085] Referring now to FIG. 6, the general format for the data type ofan operand for the present invention is illustrated. In the presentinvention, the data type for an operand may be represented in the formatof N×SR for a real data type or N×SC for a complex or imaginary datatype. N refers to the number of signal processing units 300 to whichthis given operand should be routed. S indicates the size in bits of theoperand. R refers to a real data type. C refers to a complex orimaginary data type having a real and imaginary numeric component. Inone embodiment of the present invention, the size of the multiplicationunits is sixteen bits wide and the size of the adders is forty bitswide. In one embodiment of the present invention, the memory bus issixty four bits wide so that an operand being transferred from memorymay have a width in the range of zero to sixty four bits.

[0086] For multiplicands, the operands preferably have a bit width ofmultiplies of 4, 8, 16, and 32. For minuend, subtrahends and addends,the forty bit adders preferably have operands having a bit width ofmultiplies of 4, 8, 16, 32, and 40. In the case that the data type is acomplex operand, the operand has a real operand and an imaginaryoperand. In order to designate the type of operand selected, controlregisters and instructions of the instruction set architecture include adata type field for designating the type of operand being selected by auser.

[0087] Referring now to FIG. 7, an exemplary control register of theinstruction set architecture of the present invention is illustrated. InFIG. 7, a memory address register 700 is illustrated for controlling theselection of operands from the data memory 202 to the signal processingunits 300. The memory address register 700 illustrates a number ofdifferent memory address registers which are designated in aninstruction by a pointer rX. Each of the memory address registers 700includes a type field 701, a CB bit 702 for circular and bit-reversedaddressing support, a permute field 703, a first address offset 704, asecond zero address offset 705, and a pointer 706. The type field 701designates the data type of operand being selected. The permute field703 of the memory address register 700 is explained in detail below.

[0088] Referring now to FIG. 8, an exemplary set of data types to beselected for operands is illustrated. The data type is encoded as a fourbit field in either a control register, such as the memory addressregister 700, or a DSP instruction directly selecting an operand from aregister or memory location. For example, for the data type field 701having a value of 0000, the operand has a data type of 1×16 real. Asanother example, for the data type field 701 having a value of 0111, theoperand has a 2×16 complex data type.

[0089] As yet another example, for the data type field 701 having avalue of 1001, the data type of the operand is a 2×32 complex operand.The data type field 701 is selected by a user knowing the number ofoperations that are to be processed together in parallel by the signalprocessing units 300 (i.e. N of the data type) and the bit width of theoperands (i.e. S of the data type).

[0090] The permute field in control registers, such as the memoryaddress register 700, and instructions allows broadcasting andinterchanging operands between signal processing units 300. Referringmomentarily back to FIG. 3, the X data bus 531, the Y data bus 533, andthe Z data bus 532 between the data memory 202 and signal processingunits 300 are sixty four bits wide. Because there are four signalprocessing units 300A-300D, it is often times desirable for each toreceive an operand through one memory access to the data memory 202. Onother occasions, it maybe desirable for each signal processing unit300A-300D to have access to the same operand such that it is broadcastto each.

[0091] Referring now to FIG. 9, an exemplary set of permutations toselect operands for the signal processing units is illustrated. Thepermutation in the preferred embodiment is encoded as a five bit fieldin either a control register, such as permute field 702 in the memoryaddress register 700, or a DSP instruction. The permute field providesthe capability of designating how 16-bit increments of the 64-bit databus are coupled into each of the signal processing units 300A-300D. InFIG. 9, the sixty four bits of the X data bus 531/Y data bus 533(labeled data busses 203 in FIGS. 2-3) can be designated at the top fromright to left as 0-15, 16-31, 32-47, and 48-63. The permutation ofoperands on the data bus for the given permute field is in the centerwhile the permutation type is listed to the right. The data buspermutations in the center are labeled permutations 203A through 203L.

[0092] While the data on the respective data bus does not changeposition, the five bit permute field illustrated to the left of the64-bit data bus re-arranges how a sixteen bit data field (labeled A, B,C, and D) on the respective data bus is received by each of the signalprocessing units 300A-300D. This is how the desired type of permutationis selected. That is the right most sixteen bit column can be consideredas being coupled into SP3 300D over the permutations. The second columnfrom the right can be considered as being coupled into the signalprocessing unit SP2 300C over the permutations. The third column fromthe right can be considered as being coupled into the signal processingunit SP1 300B over the permutations. The left most, fourth column fromthe right, can be considered as being coupled into the signal processingunit SP0 300A over the permutations.

[0093] In a regular access without any permutation corresponding to databus permutation 203A, bits 0-15 of the data bus are designated as D,bits 16-31 are designated as C, bits 32-47 are designated as B, and bits48-63 are designated as A. This corresponds to the permute field being00000 in the first row, permutation 203A, of the chart in FIG. 9. Withregular access chosen for each of the signal processing units 300A-300Dto the sixty four bit data bus, the sixteen bits labeled A are coupledinto SP3 300D for example. The sixteen bits labeled D are coupled intothe signal processing unit SP2 300C. The sixteen bits labeled C arecoupled into the signal processing unit SP1 300B. The sixteen bitslabeled D are coupled into the signal processing unit SP0 300A.

[0094] In the permute field, the most significant bit (Bit 26 in FIG. 9)controls whether the bits of the upper half word and the bits of thelower half word of the data bus are interchangeably input into thesignal processing units 300. For example as viewed from the point ofview of the signal processing units 300A-300D, the data bus appears asdata bus permutation 203B as compared to permutation 203A. In this casethe combined data fields of A and B are interchanged with the combineddata fields C and D as the permutation across the signal processingunits. The next two bits of the permute field (Bits 25 and 24 of permutefield 702) determine how the data fields A and B of the upper half wordare permuted across the signal processing units. The lowest two bits ofthe permute field (Bits 23 and 22 of the permute field 702) determinehow the data fields C and D of the lower half word are to be permutedacross the signal processing units.

[0095] Consider for example the case where the permute field 703 is a00100, which corresponds to the permutation 203C. In this case the typeof permutation is a permutation on the half words of the upper bits ofthe data fields A and B. As compared with permutation 203A, signalprocessing unit SP1 300B receives the A data field and signal processingunit SP0 300A receives the B data field in permutation 203C.

[0096] Consider another example where the permute field 703 is a 00001bit pattern, which corresponds to the permutation 203D. In this case thetype of permutation is a permutation on the half words of the lower bitsof the data fields of C and D. the data bus fields of C and D areexchanged to permute half words of the lower bits of the data bus. Ascompared with permutation 203A, signal processing unit SP3 300D receivesthe C data field and signal processing unit SP2 300C receives the D datafield in permutation 203D.

[0097] In accordance with the present invention, both sets of upper bitsand lower bits can be permuted together. Consider the case where thepermute field 703 is a 00101 bit pattern, corresponding to thepermutation 203E. In this case, the permute type is permuting half wordsfor both the upper and the lower bits such that A and B are exchangedpositions and C and D are exchanged positions. As compared withpermutation 203A, signal processing unit SP3 300D receives the C datafield, signal processing unit SP2 300C receives the D data field, signalprocessing unit SP1 300B receives the A data field and signal processingunit SP0 300A receives the B data field in permutation 203E.

[0098] Permutations of half words can be combined with the interchangeof upper and lower bits as well in the present invention. Referring nowto permutation 203F, the permute field 703 is a 10100 bit pattern. Inthis case, the upper and lower bits are interchanged and a permutationon the half word of the upper bits is performed such that A and B and Cand D are interchanged and then C and D is permuted on the half word. Ascompared with permutation 203A, signal processing unit SP3 300D receivesthe B data field, signal processing unit SP2 300C receives the A datafield, signal processing unit SP1 300B receives the C data field andsignal processing unit SP0 300A receives the D data field in permutation203F. Referring now to permutation 203G, the permute field 703 is a10001 bit pattern. In this case the data bus fields are interchanged anda permutation of the half word on the lower bits is performed resultingin a re-orientation of the data bus fields as illustrated in permutation203G. Referring now to permutation 203H, the permute field 703 is a10101 bit pattern. In this case, the data bus fields are interchangedand a permutation of half words on the upper bits and the lower bits hasoccurred resulting in a re-orientation of the data bus fields asillustrated in permutation 203H.

[0099] Broadcasting is also provided by the permute field as illustratedby permutations 203I, 203J, 203K, and 203L. For example considerpermutation 203I corresponding to a permute field 703 of a 01001 bitpattern. In this case, the data field A is broadcasted to each of thesignal processing units 300A-300D. That is each of the signal processingunits 300A-300D read the data field A off the data bus as the operand.For the permutation 203J having the permute field of 01100 bit pattern,the data field B is broadcast to each of the signal processing units.For permutation 203K having the permute field of a 00010 bit pattern,the data field C is broadcast to each of the signal processing units300A-300D. For permutation 203L, the permute field is a 00011combination and the data field D is broadcast to each of the signalprocessing units 300A-300D. In this manner various combinations ofpermutations and interchanging of data bus fields on the data bus can beselected for re-orientation into the respective signal pressing units300A through 300D. The Z output bus 532 carries the results from theexecution units back to memory. The data on the Z output bus 532 is notpermuted, or typed as it goes back to memory. The respective signalprocessing units 300A-300D drive the appropriate number of data bits(16, 32 or 64) onto the Z output bus 532 depending upon the type of theoperations. The memory writes the data received from the Z output bus532 using halfword strobes which are driven with the data to indicatethe validity.

[0100] Referring now to FIG. 10, a cross-sectional block diagramillustrates the data type and aligners 502A, 502B, 502C and 502D of thesignal processing blocks 300A, 300B, 300C and 300D respectively. Each ofthe data type and aligners 502A, 502B, 502C and 502D includes aninstance of a bus multiplexer 1001 for the X bus 531 and a busmultiplexer 1002 for the Y bus 533. For example, the data typer andaligner 502A of signal processing unit SP0 300A includes the busmultiplexer 1001A and the bus multiplexer 1002A. The multiplexer 1001Ahas an input coupled to the X bus 531 and an output coupled to the SX0bus 1005A. The bus multiplexer 1002A has an input coupled to the Y bus533 and an output coupled to the SY0 bus 1006A. A control bus 1011 iscoupled to each instance of the bus multiplexers 1001 which providesindependent control of each to perform the data typing alignment and anypermutation selected for the X bus 531 into the signal processing units.A control signal bus 1011 is coupled into each of the bus multiplexers1001A-1001D. A control signal bus 1012 is coupled into each of the busmultiplexers 1002A-1002D. The control signal buses 1011 and 1012 provideindependent control of each bus multiplexer to perform the data typingalignment and any permutation selected for the X bus 531 and the Y bus533 respectively into the signal processing units 300. The outputs SX0bus 1005 and SY0 bus 1006 from each of the bus multiplexers 1001 and1002 couple into the multiplexers of the adders and multipliers withinthe respective signal processors 300 for selection as the X and Yoperands respectively.

[0101] Referring now to FIG. 11, an instance of each of the busmultiplexer 1001 and 1002 are illustrated labeled 1001 and 1002respectively. Each instance of the bus multiplexer 1001 includesmultiplexers 1101 and 1102 to multiplex data from the X bus 531 ontoeach SXA bus 550 and SXM bus 552 respectively within each signalprocessing unit 300. Each instance of the bus multiplexer 1002 includesmultiplexers 1104 and 1106 to multiplex data from the Y bus 533 ontoeach SYA bus 554 and each SYM bus 556 respectively within each signalprocessing unit 300. In the preferred embodiment, the X bus 531 is sixtyfour bits wide all of which couple into the multiplexers 1101 and 1102for selection. In the preferred embodiment, the Y bus 533 is sixty fourbits wide all of which couple into the multiplexers 1104 and 1106 forselection. The output SXA 550 of multiplexer 1101 and the output SYA 554of multiplexer 1104 in the preferred embodiment are each forty bits widefor coupling each into the adder A1 510A and adder A2 510B. The outputSXM 552 of multiplexer 1102 and the output SYM 556 of multiplexer 1106in the preferred embodiment are each sixteen bits wide for coupling eachinto the multiplier M1 504A. The output buses SXA 550 and SXM 552 formthe SX buses 1005 illustrated in FIG. 10 for each signal processing unit300. The output buses SYA 554 and SYM 556 form the SY buses 1006illustrated in FIG. 10 for each signal processing unit 300.

[0102] The control signal bus 1011 has a control signal bus 1011A whichcouples into each multiplexer 1101 and a control signal bus 1011B whichcouples into each multiplexer 1102 for independent control of each. Thecontrol signal bus 1012 has a control signal bus 1012A which couplesinto each multiplexer 1104 and a control signal bus 1012B which couplesinto each multiplexer 1106 for independent control of each.

[0103] Multiplexers 1101 and 1102 in each of the data typer and aligners502 of each signal processing unit receive the entire data bus width ofthe X bus 531. Multiplexers 1104 and 1106 in each of the data typer andaligners 502 of each signal processing unit receive the entire data buswidth of the Y bus 533. With all bits of each data bus being available,the multiplexers 1101, 1102, 1104, and 1106 can perform the flexibledata typing, data alignment, and permutation of operands. In response tothe control signals on the control signal buses 1011 and 1012, each ofthe multiplexers 1101, 1102, 1104, and 1106 independently picks whichbits of the X bus 531 or the Y bus 533 to use for the respective operandfor their respective signal processor 300, align the bits into properbit positions on the output buses SXA 550, SXM 552, SYA 554, and SYM 556respectively for use by sixteen bit multipliers (M1 504A) and forty bitadders (A1 510A and A2 510B).

[0104] In the alignment process, the multiplexers 1101, 1102, 1104, and1106 also insert logical zeroes and/or ones into appropriate bitpositions to properly align and provide for sign and guard bitextensions. For example multiplexer 1101A of signal processing unit 300Amay select bits 0-15 of the sixty four bits of the X bus 531 as theoperand for an adder and multiplex those bits into bit positions 31-16and insert zeroes in bit positions 0-15 and sign-extend bit 31 into bitpositions 32-39 to make up a forty bit operand on the SXA bus 550. Toperform permutations, the multiplexers select which sixteen bits (A, B,C, or D) of the sixty four bits of the X bus and Y bus is to be receivedby the respective signal processing unit 300. For example consider abroadcast of A on the Y bus 533 for a multiplication operation, each ofthe multiplexers 1106 for each signal processing unit 300 would selectbits 0-15 (corresponding to A) from the Y bus 533 to be received by allsignal processing units 300 on their respective SYM buses 556.

[0105] The multiplexers 1101, 1102, 1104, and 1105 in response toappropriate control signals, automatically convert the number of databits from the data bus into the appropriate number of data bits of anoperand which the adder can utilize. Furthermore in response toappropriate control signals, the multiplexers 1101, 1102, 1104, and 1105select the appropriate data off the X bus and the Y bus. In order to doso, the multiplexers 1101, 1102, 1104, and 1105 in each signalprocessing unit operate more like cross point switches where any bit ofthe X or Y bus can be output into any bit of the SXA, SXM, SYA or SYMbuses and logical zeroes/ones can be output into any bit of the SXA,SXM, SYA or SYM buses. In this manner the multiplexers 1101, 1102, 1104,1106 can perform a permute functionality and align the bits accordinglyfor use by a 40-bit adder or a 16-bit multiplier.

[0106] Referring now to FIGS. 12A-12G, charts of alignment of real andimaginary flexible data types are illustrated for the sixteen bitmultipliers and the forty bit adders of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. In each row of each chart, the data type isillustrated in the left most column, the output onto one or more of theSXA, SYA, SXM or SYM data buses is illustrated in the center column andthe right most column illustrates the equivalent signal processingconfiguration of the signal processors 300A-300D of a core processor 200to perform one operation. The data type is illustrated in a vectorizedformat using the variable N to signify the number of vectors or timesthat the operand will be used. When the variable N is one, it isexpected that one operation will be performed with one set of X and Yoperands. When the variable N is two, it is expected that two operationswill be performed together in one cycle on two sets of X and Y operands.In any case, two operand data types need to be specified and if there isa mismatch, that is the data types do not match, data type matchingneeds to occur which is discussed below with reference to FIGS. 13A-13C,14, and 15.

[0107] Data types of 1×4R, 1×8R, 1×16R, 1×32R, 2×4R, 2×8R, 2×16R, 1×4C,1×8C, 1×16C, 1×32C, 2×4C, 2×8C, and 2×16C for example can all be loadedin parallel into the signal processing units across a 64-bit X and/or Ybus by being packed in four or eight sixteen-bit fields. The full bitwidth of the data types of 2×32R, 1×40R, and 1×40C can be loaded intothe signal processing units together in one cycle if both sixty-fourbits of the X and Y bus are used to load two operands during the samecycle. Data types of 2×32C or a higher order may require multiple cyclesto load the operands across the 64-bit X and/or Y buses. Additionally,an upper halfword (i.e. sixteen bits) of a 32 or 40 bit operand may beused to match a sixteen bit multiplier for example. In this case thelower bits may be discarded as being insignificant to the operation.Other bit widths of a halfword can be accommodated to match otherhardware components of a given bit width. Using halfwords, allows thedata types of 2×32R, 1×40R and 1×40C allows the operands to be loadedinto fewer signal processing units and avoid carry paths that mightotherwise be needed.

[0108] Referring now to FIG. 12A, an exemplary chart of the alignment ofdata types 1×4R, 1×8R, 1×16R, 1×32R, and 1×40R into a forty bit adder isillustrated. The sign bit in each case, with the exception of the fortybit data type of 1×40R, is located in bit 31 of the forty bit data wordand coupled into the forty bit adders. The data field in each case isfrom memory on the X or Y bus or from a register off a different bus.

[0109] The four bit data field of a 1×4R data type from the X or Y busis aligned into bit positions 28-31 with the sign bit in bit 31 of theSXA or SYA bus. The sign bit is included as the most significant bit(MSB) in a 4, 8, 16, or 32 bit word of an operand. Zeros are packed orinserted into the lower significant bits (LSBs) of bits 0-27 of the SXAbus or SYA bus in order to fill in. Guard bits, which contain theextended sign bit 31, are allocated to bits 32-39 of SXA or SYA. In thismanner, the 1×4R data type is converted into a forty bit word which isutilized by one of the forty bit adders in a signal processing unit 300for an addition, subtraction or a min/max operation.

[0110] The eight bit data field of the 1×8R data type from the X or Ybus is aligned into bits 24-31 of SXA or SYA with a sign bit in bit 31.Zeros are packed or inserted into the LSBs of bits 0-23. Guard bits,which contain extended sign bit 31, are allocated to bits 32-39. In thismanner the 1×8R data type is converted into a forty bit word which isutilized by one of the forty bit adders in a signal processing unit 300for an addition, subtraction or a min/max operation.

[0111] For an 1×16R data type, the 16 bit data field from the X or Y busis aligned into bits 16-31 with the sign bit being included in bit 31onto the SXA or SYA bus. Zeros are packed or inserted into the LSBs ofbits 0-15 while guard bits are allocated to bits 32-39. In this mannerthe 1×16R data type is converted into a forty bit word which is utilizedby one of the forty bit adders in a signal processing unit 300 for anaddition, subtraction or a min/max operation.

[0112] For an 1×32R data type, the thirty two bit data field from the Xor Y bus is aligned into bits 0-31 with the sign bit included as bit 31.Guard bits, which contain extended sign bit 31, are packed together intobits 32-39 to complete the forty bit word. In this manner 1×32R datatype is converted is converted into a forty bit word which is utilizedby one of the forty bit adders in a signal processing unit 300 for anaddition, subtraction or a min/max operation.

[0113] For an 1×40R data type, all forty bits of its data field from theX or Y bus are allocated into bits 0-39 of the SXA or SYA bus such thatone adder of a signal processing unit can perform an addition,subtraction or a min/max operation using all forty bits of the datafield at a time.

[0114] As previously discussed, multiplexers 1101 and 1104 facilitatethe conversion of the real data types into 40-bit fields for use by aforty bit adder in a signal processing unit. Each of these multiplexerswill switch the data fields to the appropriate bit locations includingthe sign bit and fill zeros into the unused LSBs and allocate the guardbits as necessary for SXA bus 550 and the SYA bus 554 bus.

[0115] Referring now to FIG. 12B, an exemplary chart of the alignment ofthe real data types 1×4R, 1×8R, 1×16R, 1×32R, and 1×40R into sixteen bitwords for sixteen bit multipliers is illustrated. For an 1×4R data type,bits 0-3 of the four bit data field from the X or Y bus is aligned intobit positions 12-15 respectively of the SXM or SYM bus. Zeros are packedor inserted into the lower significant bits (LSBs) of bits 0-11 of theSXA or SYA bus in order to fill in. In this manner, one data sample ofthe 1×4R data type is converted into a sixteen bit word which isutilized by one of the sixteen bit multipliers in a signal processingunit 300 for a multiplication or MAC operation.

[0116] For an 1×8R data type, bits 0-7 of the eight bit data field fromthe X or Y bus are located in bits 8-15 respectively of the SXM or SYMbus with zeros packed into bits 0-7. In this manner the 1×8R data typeis converted into a sixteen bit word for use by one sixteen bitmultiplier of one signal processing unit 300.

[0117] For an 1×16R data type, bits 0-15 of the sixteen bit data fieldfrom the X or Y bus is aligned into bits 0-15 of the SXM or SYM bus suchthat one signal processing unit can multiply all 16 bits at a time.

[0118] For a data type of 1×32R, bits 0-32 of the data field from the Xor Y bus are split into two sixteen bit half words. Bits 16-31 arealigned into an upper half word into bit bits 0-15 of the SXM or SYM busof a signal processing unit 300. In one embodiment, the lower half wordof bits 0-15 of the operand are discarded because they areinsignificant. In this case, one signal processing unit is utilized toprocess the sixteen bits of information of the upper half word for eachoperand. In an alternate embodiment, the lower half word of bits 0-15may be aligned into bits 0-15 of the SXM or SYM bus of another signalprocessing unit 300. In this case, two signal processing units areutilized in order to multiply the sixteen bits of information for eachhalf word and the lower order signal processing unit has a carry signalpath to the upper order signal processing unit in order to process the32-bit data field. However, by using an embodiment without a carrysignal path between signal processing units, processing time is reduced.

[0119] For a data type of 1×40R, bits 0-39 of the forty bit data fieldfrom the X or Y bus in one embodiment is reduced to a sixteen bithalfword by discarding the eight most significant bits (MSBs) and thesixteen least significant bits (LSBs). In this case bits 16-31 of theforty bits of the original operand is selected as the multiply operandfor one signal processing unit.

[0120] As previously discussed, multiplexers 1102 and 1106 facilitatethe conversion of the real data types into sixteen bit fields for use bya sixteen bit adders in a signal processing unit. Each of thesemultiplexers will switch the data fields to the appropriate bitlocations including the fill zeros into the unused LSBs as necessary forSXM buses 552A/552B and the SYM buses 556A/556B. Each of themultiplexers 1102 and 1106 perform the permutation operation, thealignment operation, and zero insertion for the respective multipliersin each of the signal processing units 300A-300D.

[0121] Referring now to 12C, an exemplary chart of the alignment of thecomplex data types 1×4C, 1×8C, 1×16C, 1×32C, 1×32C, and 1×40C into oneor more forty bit words for one or more forty bit adders is illustrated.

[0122] For complex data types at least two signal processing units areutilized to perform the complex computations of the real and imaginaryterms. For the forty bit adders, typically one signal processing unitreceives the real data portion while another signal processing unitreceives the imaginary data portion of complex data type operands.

[0123] For an 1×4C data type, bits 0-4 of the real data field arealigned into bits 28-31 respectively with a sign bit in bit position 31of a first forty bit word. Guard bits are added to bit fields 32-39while zeros are inserted into bits 0-27 of the first forty bit word.Similarly, bits 0-4 of the imaginary data field are aligned into bits28-31 respectively with a sign bit in bit position 31 of a second fortybit word. Guard bits are allocated to bits 32-39 while zeros are packedinto bits 0-27 of the second forty bit word. In this manner, 1×4Ccomplex data types are converted into two forty bit words as operandsfor two forty bit adders in two signal processing units.

[0124] For an 1×8C data type, bits 0-7 of the real data field from the Xor Y bus is located into bit positions 24-31 with a sign bit in bitposition 31 of a first forty bit operand on one the SXA or SYA buses.Guard bits are allocated to bit positions 32-39 while zeros are packedinto bits 0-23 of the first forty bit operand. Bits 0-7 of the complexdata field from the X or Y bus is aligned into bits 24-31 with a signbit in bit position 31 of a second forty bit operand on another one ofthe SXA or SYA buses. Guard bits, which are also initially zeroes, areallocated to bit positions 32-39 while zeros are packed into bits 0-23of the second forty bit operand. In this manner, 1×8C complex data typesare converted into two forty bit words as operands for two forty bitadders in two signal processing units.

[0125] For an 1×16C data type, bits 0-16 of the real data field from theX or Y bus are aligned into bits 16-31 with a sign bit in bit position31 for a first forty bit operand on one of the SXA or SYA buses. Guardbits are allocated to bit positions 32-39 with zeros packed into bitpositions 0-15 of the first forty bit operand. Similarly, bits 0-16 ofthe imaginary data field from the X or Y bus are aligned into bits 16-31including a sign bit in bit 31 for a second forty bit operand ontoanother one of the SXA or SYA buses. Guard bits are allocated to bitpositions 32-39 and zeros are packed into bit position 0-15 of thesecond forty bit operand on the SXA or SYA bus.

[0126] For an 1×32C data type, bits 0-31 of the 32-bits of real data arealigned into bits 0-31 respectively with a sign bit included in bitposition 31 of a first forty bit operand on one of the SXA or SYA buses.Guard bits are allocated to bit positions 32-39 for the first forty bitoperand. Similarly, bits 0-31 of the imaginary data field are alignedinto bit positions 0-31 with the sign bit being bit position 31 of asecond forty bit operand on another of the SXA or SYA buses. Guard bitsare inserted into bits 32-39 of the second forty bit operand. Thus, the1×32C data type is converted into two forty bit operands for two fortybit adders of two signal processing units 300 for processing both theimaginary and real terms in one cycle.

[0127] For an 1×40C complex data type, bits 0-39 of the real data fieldfrom the X or Y bus are aligned into bits 0-39 of a first forty bitoperand on one of the SXA or SYA buses for use by one signal processingunit. Bits 0-39 of the imaginary data field from the X or Y bus isaligned into bit positions 0-39 of a second forty bit operand on anotherof the SXA or SYA buses for use a second signal processing unit suchthat two signal processing units may be used to process both 40 bit datafields in one cycle.

[0128] Referring now to FIG. 12D, an exemplary chart of the alignment ofthe complex data types 2×16C, 2×32C, and 2×40C into four forty bit wordsfor four forty bit adders is illustrated. In this case two sets ofoperands (Data 1 and Data 2) are brought in together in the same cyclehaving flexible bit widths.

[0129] For the 2×16C complex data type, four 16-bit data fields from theX or Y bus are aligned into four forty bit operands, one for each of thesignal processing units 300A-300D. Bits 0-15 of the real data field forDATA 1 from the X or Y bus is aligned into bits 16-31 respectively of afirst forty bit operand including the sign bit in bit position 31 on oneof the SXA or SYA buses for a first signal processing unit. Bits 0-15 ofthe complex data field for DATA 1 from the X or Y bus are aligned intobits 16-31 respectively of a second forty bit operand including the signbit in bit position 31 on another of the SXA or SYA buses for a secondsignal processing unit. Bits 0-15 of the real data field for DATA 2 fromthe X or Y bus is aligned into bits 16-31 respectively of a third fortybit operand including the sign bit in bit position 31 on yet another oneof the SXA or SYA buses for a third signal processing unit. Bits 015 ofthe complex data field for DATA 2 from the X or Y bus are aligned intobits 16-31 respectively of a fourth forty bit operand including the signbit in bit position 31 on still another of the SXA or SYA buses for afourth signal processing unit. Zeros are packed into bit positions 0-15and guard bits are allocated to bits 32-39 in each of the forty bitoperands on the four SXA or four SYA buses as shown in FIG. 12D. Thus,the 2×16C complex data type is aligned into four forty bit operands foruse by four forty bit adders in four signal processing units.

[0130] The 2×32C complex data type and the 2×40C complex data type arealigned into four operands similar to the 2×16 data type but havedifferent bit alignments and insertion of zeros or allocation of guardbits. These bit alignments and zero packing/insertions and guard bitallocations are shown as illustrated in FIG. 12D.

[0131] In this manner two 2×SC complex data types, where S is limited bythe width of the adder, can be aligned into four operands for use byfour adders in four signal processing units 300 to process the complexdata types in one cycle.

[0132] Referring now to FIG. 12E, an exemplary chart of the alignment ofthe complex data types 1×4C, 1×8C, 1×16C, 1×32C, and 1×40C into one ormore sixteen bit words for one or more sixteen bit multipliers isillustrated.

[0133] For an 1×4C complex data type, bits 0-3 of the real data fieldfrom the X or Y bus is aligned into bits 12-15 respectively of a firstsixteen bit operand on one of the SXM or SYM buses as illustrated inFIG. 12E. Bits 0-3 of the imaginary data field from the X or Y bus isaligned into bits 12-15 respectively of a second sixteen bit operand onanother one of the SXM or SYM buses.

[0134] Bits 0-11 of each of the first and second sixteen bit operandsare packed with zeros. In this manner, the each complex element of a1×4C complex data types is converted into two sixteen bit words asoperands for two sixteen bit multipliers in two signal processing units.The 1 by 8C data type and the 1×16C data types are similarly transformedinto two sixteen bit operands as is the 1×4C but with different bitalignment as shown and illustrated in FIG. 12E. The complex data types1×4C, 1×8C, and 1×16C in FIG. 12E utilize two signal processing unitsand align their respective data bit fields into two sixteen bit wordsfor use by two sixteen bit multipliers in two signal processing units onone cycle.

[0135] For a 1×32C complex data type with operands having bits 0-31, theupper half word of bits 16-31 of the real and imaginary parts of eachoperand are selected and multiplexed from the buses SXM or SYM into twosixteen bit multipliers in one embodiment while the lower half word isdiscarded. In an alternate embodiment, the upper half word and the lowerhalf word for the real and imaginary parts are multiplexed into foursixteen bit multipliers for multiplication with a carry from the lowerhalf word multiplier to the upper half word multiplier.

[0136] For a 1×40C complex data type with operands having bits 0-39, amiddle half word of bits 16-31 of the real and imaginary parts of eachoperand are selected and multiplexed from the buses SXM or SYM into twosixteen bit multipliers in one embodiment while the upper bits 32-39 andthe lower half word bits 0-15 are discarded. In an alternate embodiment,the word is separated by the multiplexers across multiple multiplierswith carry from lower order multipliers to upper order multipliers forthe real and imaginary terms of the complex data type.

[0137] Referring now to FIG. 12F, an exemplary chart of the alignment ofthe complex data types 2×32C or 2×40C and 2×16C into four sixteen bitwords for four sixteen bit multipliers is illustrated.

[0138] For 2×32C data types, bits 0-15 of the upper half word of thereal data (RHWu) of a first operand on the X or Y bus are aligned intobits 0-15 respectively of a first sixteen bit operand on one of the SXMor SYM buses for a first of the signal processing units and bits 0-15 ofthe upper half word of the real data field of a second operand from theX or Y bus are aligned into bits 0-15 of a second sixteen bit operand onanother one of the SXM or SYM buses for the first signal processingunit. Bits 0-15 of the upper half word (IHWu) of the imaginary data ofthe first operand on the X or Y bus are aligned into bit positions 0-15of a third sixteen bit operand on another one of the SXM or SYM busesfor a second signal processing unit and bits 0-15 of the upper half ofthe imaginary data of the second operand on the X or Y bus are alignedinto bits 0-15 of a fourth sixteen bit operand on another one of the SXMor SYM buses for the second signal processing unit. Thus, the 2 by 32Ccomplex data type uses two signal-processing units and converts the32-bit real and imaginary data fields into 16-bit operands for use bythe 16-bit multipliers in two signal processing units.

[0139] For 2×16C data types, two complex operands can be specified andmultiplexed as one across a sixty four bit data bus into twomultipliers. In this case, bits 0-15 of real data field of the firstoperand from the X or Y bus is aligned into bits 0-15 of a first sixteenbit operand on one of the SXM or SYM buses for one signal-processingunit while bits 0-15 of the imaginary data of the first operand on the Xor Y bus is aligned into bits 0-15 of a second sixteen bit operand onanother of the SXM or SYM buses for a second signal-processing unit.Bits 0-15 of real data field of the second operand on the X or Y bus isaligned into bits 0-15 of a third sixteen bit operand for the firstsignal processing unit and bits 0-15 of the imaginary data field of thesecond operand on the X or Y bus is aligned into bits 0-15 of a fourthsixteen bit operand on another one of the SXM or SYM buses for thesecond signal processing unit. Thus, the 2×16C data type uses foursignal processing units to process each of four sixteen bit operands infour 16-bit multipliers in one cycle.

[0140] Referring now to FIGS. 13A, 13B and 13C, the general rule fortype matching of two operands is illustrated. Generally, data typematching refers to matching two different data types of two operandstogether so that they can be properly processed for a given digitalsignal processing operation. In FIG. 13A, the first operand, operand 1,has a data type of N₁ by S₁ real and the second operand, operand 2, hasa data type of N₂ by S₂ real. The general rule for operand type matchingof two real data types is to determine and select the maximum of N₁ orN₂ and the maximum of S₁ or S₂. Alternatively, one can determine anddiscard the minimum of N₁ or N₂ and the minimum of S₁ or S₂ to provideoperand type matching. Operand data type matching provides an indicationof the number of signal-processing units that the operands are to beprocessed by (maximum of N₁ or N₂) and the bit width of both operands(maximum of S₁ or S₂). For the different operand types the multipliersand adders of the signal processing units are provided with the bestoperand type match of two different operand data types in order toobtain a result. The output results from the operation preformed on thedisparate operands is in the form of the matched data type.

[0141] Referring now to FIG. 13B, both the first operand, operand 1, andthe second operand, operand 2, are complex data types. The general rulefor operand type matching of two complex types of operands is thesimilar for matching two real data types but resulting in a complex datatype. The operand data type matching for the complex data types is todetermine and select the maximum of N₁ or N₂ and the maximum of S₁ orS₂.

[0142] Referring now to FIG. 13C, the first operand, operand 1, is areal data type while the second operand, operand 2, is a complex datatype. The general rule for operand data type matching of a real datatype and a complex data type is to select the maximum of N₁ or N₂ andthe maximum of S₁ or S₂ which has a complex data type match. The maximumof N₁ or N₂ represents the number of signal-processing units needed forprocessing the real or the imaginary term and the maximum of S₁ or S₂represents the bit width of the operand that is to be aligned into thesignal-processing units. Multiplexers 1101 1102, 1104, and 1106 in eachinstance of the data typer and aligner 502, perform the data typematching between operand 1 and operand 2 from the X bus 531 or the Y bus533 in response to appropriate multiplexer control signals. Permutationand alignment is automatically selected by the respective core processor200 to provide the data type matching for the two operands throughcontrol of the bus multiplexers into each of the signal processingunits.

[0143] In addition to automatic data type matching, the presentinvention operationally matches the data types in response to theoperation to be performed (ADD, SUB, MULT, DIVIDE, etc.), the number offunctional units (adders and multipliers) and their respective bitwidths in each of signal processing units 300A-300D, the bit width ofautomatic data type match for the two operands, and whether real orcomplex data types are involved and scalar or vector functions are to beperformed. Each of the signal processing units 300A-300D has twomultipliers and three adders. In the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, each of the multipliers are sixteen bits wide and each of theadders is forty bits wide. Multiple operands of the same data type canbe easily processed after setting up nominal data types and reading newdata as the new operands and repeating the multiplication, addition orother type of signal processing operation.

[0144] Referring now to FIGS. 14, 15A and 15B, exemplary charts showingoperational matching of data types provided by the present invention areillustrated. In each of FIGS. 14, 15A, and 15B, a data type for a firstoperand is indicated along the top row and a data type for a secondoperand is indicated along the left most column. The matrix between thetop row and the left most column in each of the figures indicates theoperational matching provided by the embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0145] In FIG. 14, an exemplary chart showing the data type matching fora multiplication operation by the multipliers of the signal processingunits is illustrated. Operands having data types of four and eight bitsare not illustrated in FIG. 14 with it being understood that these datatypes are converted into sixteen bit operands. In FIG. 14, the emptycells are disallowed operations for the embodiment described herein.However, if the number of signal processing units is expanded from fourand the data bit width of the multipliers is expanded from sixteen bits,additional operations can be performed for other operand data typecombinations. In each completed cell of FIG. 14, the operation requirestwo cycles for a vector operation and three cycles for a real data typescalar operation. Scalar multiplication of a complex operand withanother operand is not performed because two values, a real and animaginary number, always remain as the result. Each completed cellindicates the number of signal processing units used to perform themultiplication operation. For example, a multiplication of a 1×16Coperand with a 1×16C operand indicates that four signal processing unitsare utilized. In the case of a complex multiplication, the operands are(r1+ji1) and (r2+ji2) where r1 and r2 are the real terms and i1 and i2are the imaginary terms. The result of the complex multiplication is[(r1×r2)−(i1×i2)] for the real term and [(r1×i2)+(r2×i1)] for theimaginary term. Thus, four signal processing units process themultiplication of the parentheticals together in the same cycle.

[0146] The remaining add and subtract operations for the real andimaginary terms respectively are then performed in two signal processingunits together on the next cycle to obtain the final results. Consideras another example, a multiplication of a 1×16R operand with a 1×32Coperand. In this case, FIG. 14 indicates that four signal processingunits are utilized. The operands are r1 and (r2+ji2) where r1 and r2 arereal numbers and i2 is an imaginary number. The result of the operationis going to be [(r1×r2)] for the real part of the result and [(r1×i2)]for the imaginary part of the result. Because the complex operand isthirty two bits wide, the real and imaginary terms are split into halfwords. Thus the operation becomes [(r1×r2UHW)+(r1×r2LHW)] for the realpart and [(r1×i2UHW)+(r1 ×i2LHW)] where UHW is the upper half word andLHW is the lower half word of each value respectively. Thus, each offour signal processing units performs the multiplication of theparentheticals together in one cycle while the addition of terms isperformed in two signal processing units on the next cycle.

[0147] Referring now to FIG. 15A, an exemplary chart showing the datatype matching for scalar addition by the adders of the signal processingunits is illustrated. Operands having data types of four and eight bitsare not illustrated in FIG. 15A with it being understood that these datatypes are converted into sixteen bit operands. Note that no scalaraddition is performed using a complex operand due to the fact that twovalues, a real number and an imaginary number, always results in anoperation involving a complex operand. In FIG. 15A, the empty cells aredisallowed operations for the embodiment described herein. However, ifthe number of signal processing units is expanded from four and the databit width of the adders is expanded from forty bits, additionaloperations can be performed for other operand data type combinations. Ineach completed cell of FIG. 15A, the scalar add operation can becompleted in one cycle if both operands are readily available. Eachcompleted cell indicates the number of signal processing units used toperform the scalar addition operation.

[0148] Consider for example a 1×32R operand and a 2×16R operand where r1is the first operand being 32 bits wide and r2 and r3 is the second setof operands each being sixteen bits wide. The chart of FIG. 15Aindicates that two signal processing units are utilized. The scalarresult is [(r1+r2)+(r1+r3)]. Two signal processing units perform theaddition operation in the parenthetical using their two forty bit addersin one cycle while a second addition in one of the two signal processingunits combines the intermediate result in a second cycle.

[0149] Referring now to FIG. 15B, an exemplary chart showing the datatype matching for the vector addition by the adders of the signalprocessing units is illustrated. Operands having data types of four andeight bits are not illustrated in FIG. 15B with it being understood thatthese data types are converted into sixteen bit operands. In FIG. 15B,the empty cells are disallowed operations for the embodiment describedherein. However, if the number of signal processing units is expandedfrom four and the data bit width of the adders is expanded from fortybits, additional operations can be performed for other operand data typecombinations. In each completed cell of FIG. 15B, the vector addoperation can be completed in one cycle if both operands are readilyavailable. Each completed cell indicates the number of signal processingunits used to perform the vector addition operation. Operands havingcomplex data types can be used in performing vector addition.

[0150] Consider for example a 1×16R operand and a 1×32C operand where r1is the first operand being 16 bits wide and r2 and i2 are the secondoperand each being thirty two bits wide. The chart of FIG. 15B indicatesthat two signal processing units are utilized. The real 1×16R operand isconverted into 1×16C complex operand with an imaginary part of zero. Inone signal processing unit the real parts are added together performing(r1+r2) while in another signal processing unit the imaginary componenti2 is added to zero performing (0+i2). The vector result is [(r1+r2)] asthe real component and i2 as the imaginary component. The signalprocessing units perform the addition operation in the parentheticalsusing a forty bit adder.

[0151] Consider as another example a 1×16C operand and a 1×32C operandFor the 1×16C operand r1 and i1 are the real and imaginary partsrespectively of the first operand each being 16 bits wide and r2 and i2are the real and imaginary terms of second operand each being thirty twobits wide. The chart of FIG. 15B indicates that two signal processingunits are utilized. The vector result is [(r1+r2)] as the real componentand [(i1+i2)] as the imaginary component. Two signal processing unitsperform the addition operations in the parentheticals using forty bitadders.

[0152] Referring now to FIG. 16, a block diagram illustrating thecontrol signal generation for the bus multiplexers included in each ofthe data typer and aligners of each signal processing unit. Controlsignals provided to each of the bus multiplexers of each data typer andaligner provide selective control to perform automatic data typing andalignment and user selected permutations. Control signals tomultiplexers 1101 and 1102 of the bus multiplexer for the X bus in eachof the data typer aligners selects the data type and alignment for oneoperand into each of the signal processing units. Controls signals tomultiplexers 1104 and 1106 of the bus multiplexer for the Y bus in eachof the data typer and aligners selects the data type and alignment forthe second operand into each of the signal processing units. Automaticdata type matching is provided through control of the bus multiplexersin each signal processor in response to decoding the data type fieldsassociated with each operand from the control register or theinstruction itself. The resultant operands output from each of the busmultiplexers in each signal processing unit is coupled into themultiplexer 514A of the multiplier 504A, multiplexer 520A of adder 510A,and multiplexer 520B of adder 510B in each signal processing unit asillustrated in FIG. 5B.

[0153] In FIG. 16, one or more DSP instructions 1600 are coupled into aninstruction predecoder 1602. The instruction predecoder 1602 may includeone or more control registers (“CR”) 1604 which include a data typefield and a permute field to inform the predecoder 1602 of the data typeof the operands and how they are to be read into each of the signalprocessing units 300 (SP0 300A, SP1 300B, SP2 300C, and SP3 300D). Theone or more DSP instructions 1600 directly or indirectly through the oneor more control registers 1604, indicate each data type for two operandsin two data type fields and any permutation of the data bus in twopermute fields. The instruction predecoder 1602 automatically determinesthe best data type match by comparing the two data types for eachoperand. The instruction predecoder 1602 also reads the permute fieldsof each operand. In response to the permute fields and the data types ofeach operand, the instruction predecoder 1602 generates predecodedcontrol signals 1606 for data typing multiplexing control. Thepredecoded control signals 1606 are accordingly for the control of thebus multiplexers 1001 and 1002 in each data typer and aligner 502 (datatyper and aligner 502A, 502B, 502C, and 502D) in each signal processingunit 300. These predecoded control signals are coupled into the finaldecoders 1610A in each signal processing unit to generate themultiplexer control signals 1011 and 1012 respectively for each busmultiplexer 1001 and 1002 of each data typer and aligner 502 in eachsignal processing unit 300. The instruction predecoder 1602 furthergenerates predecoded control signals for other multiplexers 1620B, 1620Cthrough 1620N of each signal processing unit 300. Final decoders 1610B,1610C through 1610N receive the predecoded control signals to generatethe multiplexer control signals for each of the multiplexers 1620B,1620C through 1620N of each signal processing unit 300. In this manner,the operands on the X bus and the Y bus can be aligned, matched,permuted and selected for performing a digital signal processingoperation.

[0154] As those of ordinary skill will recognize, the present inventionhas many advantages. One advantage of the present invention is thatoperands of various data types for different digital signal processingapplications can be processed in the application specific signalprocessor of the present invention. Another advantage of the presentinvention is that automatic data type matching is provided. Anotheradvantage of the present invention is that operands can be automaticallypermuted through use of a permute field in an instruction or controlregister so that additional instructions to perform a desiredpermutation to the signal processors are unnecessary. Another advantageof the present invention is that the data type capabilities of thesignal processing units can be easily expanded by adding additionalsignal processing units.

[0155] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are thusdescribed. While certain exemplary embodiments of the present inventionhave been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to beunderstood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and notrestrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not belimited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown anddescribed, since various other modifications may occur to thoseordinarily skilled in the art. For example, the present invention ofdata typing and aligning has been described with reference to memoryaccess registers for accessing operands from memory but operands can beaccessed from registers and can also be appropriately data typed andaligned by the present invention. While a 16-bit multiplier is utilizedin the preferred embodiment of the invention, multipliers having largerbit widths may also be utilized and provide greater data typeflexibility. Additionally, the data bus between the data memory and thesignal-processing units maybe increased in size from 64-bits to 80-bitsfor example and provide greater data type flexibility. Furthermore,additional signal-processing units maybe provided such that larger bitwidths of operands or a greater number of operands for processingtogether in a cycle may also be accommodated. Additionally, the presentinvention may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware or acombination thereof and utilized in systems, subsystems, components orsub-components thereof. When implemented in software, the elements ofthe present invention are essentially the code segments to perform thenecessary tasks. The program or code segments can be stored in aprocessor readable medium or transmitted by a computer data signalembodied in a carrier wave over a transmission medium or communicationlink. The “processor readable medium” may include any medium that canstore or transfer information. Examples of the processor readable mediuminclude an electronic circuit, a semiconductor memory device, a ROM, aflash memory, an erasable ROM (EROM), a floppy diskette, a CD-ROM, anoptical disk, a hard disk, a fiber optic medium, a radio frequency (RF)link, etc. The computer data signal may include any signal that canpropagate over a transmission medium such as electronic networkchannels, optical fibers, air, electromagnetic, RF links, etc. The codesegments may be downloaded via computer networks such as the Internet,Intranet, etc. In any case, the present invention should not beconstrued as limited by such embodiments, but rather construed accordingto the claims that follow below.

What is claimed is: 1-8. (Cancelled)
 9. (Original) A method ofperforming digital signal processing (DSP) operations using flexibledata type operands, the method comprising: fetching a first and secondoperand for a DSP instruction; decoding settings of a data type field todetermine the data types of the first and second operand; determining ifthe data types of the first and second operand match; and in response tothe first and second operand having matching data types, executing theDSP instruction using the first and second operand.
 10. (Original) Themethod of claim 9 wherein, the data type field is in an access controlregister.
 11. (Original) The method of claim 9 wherein, the data typefield is in the DSP instruction.
 12. (Currently Amended) The method ofclaim 9, further comprising: in response to the first and second operandnot having matching data types, performing a type matching to find amatched data type for the first and second operand; and, responsive tofinding a matched data type for the first and second operands, executingthe DSP instruction using the matched data type and the first and secondoperands.
 13. (Original) The method of claim 12 wherein, the firstoperand has a data type of N1×S1 and the second operand has a data typeof N2×S2, and the matched data type is found by selecting the maximum ofN1 or N2 and the maximum of S1 or S2 as the matched data type. 14.(Original) The method of claim 12 wherein, the first operand has a datatype of N1×S1 and the second operand has a data type of N2 ×S2, and thematched data type is found by selecting and discarding the minimum of N1or N2 and the minimum of S1 or S2 so that the matched data type remains.15. (Currently Amended) The method of claim 9, further comprising:decoding a permute field to determine the permutation of operands to aplurality of signal processors to execute the DSP instruction. 16-17.(Cancelled)
 18. (New) A method of performing digital signal processing(DSP) operations using flexible data type operands, the methodcomprising: fetching a first operand and a second operand for a DSPinstruction; decoding settings of one or more data type fields todetermine a first data type of the first operand and a second data typeof the second operand; comparing the first data type of the firstoperand with the second data type of the second operand; if thecomparing determines that the first data type of the first operandmatches the second data type of the second operand, then executing theDSP instruction using the first operand and the second operand;otherwise, if the comparing determines that the first data type of thefirst operand and the second data type of the second operand do notmatch then performing a type matching to find a matched data type forthe first operand and the second operand, and, responsive to finding thematched data type for the first operand and the second operand,executing the DSP instruction using the matched data type and the firstand second operands.
 19. (New) The method of claim 18, furthercomprising: decoding one or more permute fields to determine thepermutation of the first operand and the second operand to a pluralityof signal processors to execute the DSP instruction.
 20. (New) Themethod of claim 19 wherein, the one or more data type fields and the oneor more permute fields are stored in an access control register. 21.(New) The method of claim 19 wherein, the DSP instruction includes theone or more data type fields and the one or more permute fields. 22.(New) The method of claim 18 wherein, the first operand has a data typeof N1×S1 and the second operand has a data type of N2×S2, and thematched data type is found by selecting the maximum of N1 or N2 and themaximum of S1 or S2 as the matched data type.
 23. (New) The method ofclaim 18 wherein, the first operand has a data type of N1×S1 and thesecond operand has a data type of N2×S2, and the matched data type isfound by selecting and discarding the minimum of N1 or N2 and theminimum of S1 or S2 so that the matched data type remains.
 24. (New) Amethod of performing digital signal processing (DSP) operations usingflexible data type operands, the method comprising: receiving a firstoperand and a second operand for a DSP instruction; decoding at leastone data type field to determine a first data type of the first operandand a second data type of the second operand; determining if the firstdata type and the second data type match; if the first data type matchesthe second data type, then executing the DSP instruction using the firstoperand and the second operand; otherwise if the first data type doesnot match the second data type, then performing a type matching to finda matched data type for the first operand and the second operand, and,responsive to finding the matched data type for the first operand andthe second operand, aligning the first and second operands together inaccordance with the matched data type and executing the DSP instructionusing the aligned first and second operands.
 25. (New) The method ofclaim 24, further comprising: decoding at least one permute field todetermine a permutation of the first operand and the second operand to aplurality of signal processors, responsive to the permutation of thefirst operand and the second operand, providing the first operand andthe second operand to the plurality of signal processors to execute theDSP instruction.
 26. (New) The method of claim 25 wherein, the at leastone data type field and the at least one permute field are stored in anaccess control register.
 27. (New) The method of claim 25 wherein, theDSP instruction includes the at least one data type field and the atleast one permute field.